WhatFinger


Exercise Polar Warrior 2009

Army reserve unit deploys with Canadian Rangers to Northern Ontario



BARRIE - More than 120 soldiers from the Army Reserve formation of the Greater Toronto Area and Central Ontario will deploy to Kitchenuhmaykoosib, an Oji-Cree community of 1,800 people 600 km northwest of Thunder Bay, from 27 February to 7 March.

Support Canada Free Press


This exercise, called Polar Warrior 2009, is an early step in the establishment of a permanent Arctic Response Company Group, a composite unit of soldiers from across 32 Canadian Brigade Group (32 CBG) intended for operations in the Arctic. The soldiers will train in marksmanship, building survival shelters, traditional food preparation, ice fishing and ice rescue while camping in the wilderness. "We understand the growing importance of the Arctic," says Colonel Gerry Mann, Commander of 32 CBG. "This is why we're developing our Arctic Response unit and why we appreciate the Canadian Rangers for their help and experience." The Arctic response unit will be teaming up with elements of 3 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. Part-time soldiers and skilled hunters and trappers, the Canadian Rangers will be flying to Kitchenuhmaykoosib for the exercise from several First Nations communities to show the soldiers how to live off the land and deal with harsh winter conditions. The soldiers are exercising in Kitchenuhmaykoosib at the invitation of Chief Donny Morris and the Band Council. The Arctic Response Company Group will be departing from Lake Simcoe Regional Airport on Saturday 28 February via chartered aircraft, and will be returning the following Saturday. 32 CBG comprises 2,000 part-time soldiers with more than 200 vehicles. They are dispersed among eleven units and a small headquarters. More than 120 soldiers of the brigade deployed to Afghanistan in 2008.


View Comments

Guest Column -- Bio and Archives

Items of notes and interest from the web.


Sponsored